Agenda item

The report which informed Members about proposals for a Sustainable Transport Project for the National Park, and sought approval for the development of the report into a formal proposal and a bidding document for funding, was introduced by the Transport Policy Planner.

The recommendations as set out in the report were moved.

Officers confirmed that in 2022 the intention was for the Hope Valley Explorer bus service to be an hourly service, with two vehicles, operating from Easter weekend to the beginning of September.  Whilst the service would call at Bamford and Hope stations, it was unlikely that it would be able to wait for connecting trains due to the disruption this would potentially cause to the bus timetable.  It was also confirmed that the “Explorer” and demand response models could be developed further to new routes.

Members questioned whether the cost of providing the Explorer service would be better invested in subsidising fares out of Sheffield into the National Park, rather than in providing an internal bus service which still left families with the expense of travelling into the Park.  Officers advised that the amount of money which the Authority had available to subsidise services was very small. The Hope Valley Explorer starts at Chesterfield at the beginning of the day and connects with other services at Baslow, however the Authority was prohibited from competing with commercial services, which it would be doing if it ran buses out of Sheffield.

Members further discussed the expense for a family of using public transport to visit the National Park rather than their private car, and what measures could be taken to encourage this.  A congestion charge was suggested, the funds raised by this potentially being reinvested in public transport. Officers advised that this was not a measure that was being considered, in part because of the impact that such a scheme could have on people with low incomes.

“Park and ride” schemes had been considered, but direct provision of them was expensive. This model was particularly the focus of the Peak District Connect and Moorlands Connect services, and potentially in the future could also operate from the Peak Resort Site.

A job description had not yet been finalised for the Project Officer role outlined in the report as it would be necessary to ensure funding was in place before the role was established.

Members discussed the need for an integrated transport strategy across the local area in order to counter the environmental cost of car use and coordinate the work of the many partners involved, however resources continued to be an issue.  It was felt that further research would be necessary to ensure the success of any such strategy and that a symposium event should be held for all partners involved in public transport in the local area.

A amendment was proposed to add “including a project officer” to the end of the first recommendation.

The motion for the recommendation as amended was seconded put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED

1.    To offer support for the development of this report into a formal proposal and bidding document for a Peak District Sustainable Transport Project, including a project officer.

2.    To support the development of the bid with partner organisations including our constituent transport authorities.

3.    To agree that this project be steered under the auspices of the Member Climate Change Steering Group.

4.    To support the convening of a meeting with appropriate partners in Spring/Summer to develop the bidding document.

Cllr Furness left the meeting.